Hydraulic turbine



Feb. 26 1924.

L. F. HARZA HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed NOV. 24 1919 2 shaQtfl-sheot I Feb. 26 1924.

L. F. HARZA HYDRAULIC TURBINE F1106- Nov. '24, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet z g: V v 31... v

inc/8%? y ,fiv'za fla Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

LEROY 1r. HALRZL, or CHICAGO, rumors.

, HYDRAULIC TURBINE.

Application med November 24, 1919. SeriaLIio. 840,187,

To all adhamitvnay conce'i'n 'I Be it known th'at'I, LEROY F. HARZA, a citizen of the United States and resident of .Chi'c'agm-in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Hydraulic Turbine, of'which the following isia-specificaitionp- This 'nvention relates to hydraulic tur Rhinosand relates" particularly to axial flow "-1 turbines.

The objectof the present invention is 'to provide a -.-hydra.ulic'turbine of the general type s'peoified of new and novel construction,: whereby power plants embodying lrydromotive units-as hydro-electric generators-may begreatly simplified and the cost' thereof correspondingly reduced. To this end,my invention consistsin connecting the-turbine runner or rotor and the casing of theturbine,having the relation, of afrim thereto directly to'each other so that they will form a unitary structure, and in rotatably-mountin the unit formed thereby between the ad acent ends of the penstock and draft tube, said turbine rim or casing 'forming, in effect, a'rotatable section of the water trunk.

Another object of my invention isto combine a hydraulic turbine directly with an electric generator so that they will constitute a compact unit in which the rotor of the generator surrounds and is'carried directly upon the periphery of the turbine.

My inventionalso comprises the various other features,"combinations of features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompan 'ing drawin s, in which my invention is fu ly illustrates,

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of a power house, showing the manner of installing a hydraulic turbine of my invention as preferably applied for driving an electrical generator.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of my improved turbine combined with an electrical generator, as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view substantially similar to Fig. 2, illustrating modified means for applying the power developed by my im roved turbine.

At t 1e present time, water power is very largely applied by means of hydro-electric generators-that is, '-electric generators driven by means of hydraulic turbmes -aiid because of this very common iand g'enerall known and well understood usew-and -apphcation of h'ydromo'tive units, Lhayegforifiur- Z poses of concrete illustration, shown. at shydrauhc turbine of-an im'ventiomconnected an anove'l manner for" rivingsan dlectricalgen erator, sa d turbineands-generator tbgether forming what'.1s--common y'tltnown'iandrre B5 .ferred to as a hydraeledtrlegenerator.

I desire itu'nderstood, however,'rthat sthe application shown isillustratiae: onlylyand that I do not limit mysel-f thereto 'or'totany specific application as,-so far asil a'm'raw'a're, hydromoti-ve units of my'invention' admitof general a plica'tionfor all'uses and purposes for. whic present 'hydromotive -unit$are adapted. a

Referring now toFigures 1 to 3 of:-the drawings, A. designates, as a whole-,"-:the power house of'a hydro-electric "lant','oomprisingside walls-A, A and-a (Sunni-{all of which rest directly on "bed rock; indicated at A, a the normal head water leve1,or water level above the dam, a the '-normal=tail water level or level below the-dam, a an 1-assumed head water'level at flood sta e, and a an assumed tail water level at fioo stage. 1

As regards "its usual features and excepting as hereinafter particularly pointed out and described, the power house A may be of any usual or approved construction and will be readily understood by persons familiar with such structures without a detailed description thereof.

My improved hydromotive unit, designated as a whole B, is of any practical axial flow type, the type being immaterial to-my invention, and as shown comprises a rotor or runner resembling a ships propeller, designated 1, and a rim or casing 2connected directly to each other so as to form a unitary structure. A propeller type of runner I now define as any axial flow runner consisting for 100 my use of three or more blades in approximately radial positions the maximum dimension of the runner between the extreme upstream and downstream points thereof, measured parallel with its axis of rotation, being less than the diameter of the runner. The propeller 1 and easing 2 will preferably be made of cast metal andwill preferably be cast integral with each other, though my invention contemplates equally forming them separate and rigidly connecting them b suitable; eans as bqlts,; screvgs or the li In accordance with my invention, the

hydromotive unit B isrotat ively monnted, with small clearance between thudjacent enstock 3 and the draft tube ends of the h 4, both of w ich are made of boiler plate, concrete, or other material, of suitable -thickness to afford requisitestrength and both of *which taper towards said hydromotive unit, Ethepenstock 3beingpreferably built into the wall A'rof the powerhouse and the draft tube 4 into the wall A thereof.

The 'manner of mounting said hydromotive. unit B upon 'the'penstock 3 and the :draft tube-14' *is as follows:-'-=Secured to the ends of 'said penstock fund draft tube and fittedrthereto, respectively, so as toform tight join'ts therewith, are rings15 and 6, i which may conveniently be form'ed of cast metal, preferably cast steel, -'on 'which are bearings which co-operate with :corresponding bearin on the rim 2'-of-the turbine. As shown, sa1dhydromotive unit 13' is supported by 'means ofball bearings comprising ball races formed b y cone members 7 formed on the turbine rim '2 'and cups 8 slidablyfitted to bearings 9 formed on the rings '5.-and-6 secured to the ends of the penstock and 'drafttube so as to be movable endwise thereon towards and from the cones 7, thus providing for adjusting said ball bearings. Also, to provide for installing said hydromotiveunit B and for removing the same in 'caseof-neeessity,the bearings 9 are made sufiiciently long to provide for retractin the ball-.bearing cups 8 beyond the latera faces of said 'hydromotive unit. The bear ing cups 8 are adapted to be adjusted lengthwise of the bearings 9 on the rings 5 and 6 towards and from the bearing cones 7 by bolts 10 secured in said bearing cups, threaded to which are nuts 11 rotatably mounted against endwise movement in brackets 12 secured to the rings 5 and 6 outside of said bearing cups, and said cups are adapted to be rigidly secured to said rin 5 and 6 in difi'erent adjusted positions. Within the contemplation of my invention, any desired or approved means may be employed for this purpose and it will not, therefore, be necessary either to-show or describe the same in detail. s shown. the nuts 11 are held from'endwise movement by means of circumferential grooves 15 formed in the surfaces thereof, which engage open sided slots formed in the brackets 12, the sides of said grooves embracing opposite sides of said brackets. For'convenience in turning the adjusting nuts 11, hand wheels 17 are preferably secured thereto, said hand wheels and nuts being preferably formed integral with each other. Also, to provide for adjusting the bearing cups to their bearings 9 on the rings 5 and 6, the brackets 1.2 are;removably secured to said r'irigs' by scrws or %ther suitable aneans.

n the operation of my improved turbine, the wa ter passing through the turbine will exert a pressure onthe turbine rotor 1 which will tend to force the face of the turbine casing 2 adjacent to the draft tube 4 against the face ofztheringfi opposed thereto. This pressure require the use of a thrust bean ing of any usual type, such'as a babbitted disk, Kingsbu'ry" type oil pressure or water pressure type, all of which are old and well 'known' in many diflerent applications. What I now consider tobe the preferable type of "thrustb'earing for this purpose is the water pressure type wherein I provide an'annular chambbr-IIB in the face iof the tul'bine casing 2 opposed tos the faceofsthe ring 6 and connect said chamber with a source of supply of'water under pressure, not shown, the-relation beingsuch that the ag regate pressure exertedsby the water. in sea chamberl8'will slightly more than counterbalance the water pressure onthe turbine rotor 1.- Thus, the-waterpressure in the chamber 18 wil-ltend' toaforce the turbine casing away from.-the-= opposed face ofthe ring 6, but :should any 1 movement -.occur,. it would open :a sliglitspace betweenwthe opposed faces of said casing and ring, which would permit suflicient leakage from said chamber into the water ?trunk to reduce the pressure in saidchamber to exactly counterbalance the water pressure on the turbine rotor. This would be so for the reason that the pre$ure in the chamber 18 would be greater than the pressure'in the water trunk.

Leakage from said chamber 18 outwardly can be reduced by suitable packing applied between the opposed surfaces of said turbine rim or'casing. 2 and ring 6 outside of said chamber 18. Suitable packing for this purpose can readily-be devised and supplied y persons familiar with hydromotive construction without the exercise of invention and such packing is, therefore, neither shown nor described, as to do so would needlessly increase the length of the specification without in any way elucidating the invention. f

In like manner, the space between the opposed faces of the turbine casing 2 and the ring 5 on the penstock is adapted to be packed or sealed by suitable packing means. Packing for this purpose can also readily be devised by skilled mechanics and is not. therefore, either shown or described. At both locations the pressure of packing reqluired to entirely eliminate leakage, even if his were possible, would be objectionable because of the excessive friction produced and the consequent short life of the packing. However, as access of moisture to the electric generator would result in short-circuit ing the same and burning it out, where my improved turbine is applied for use in connection with an electrical generator, the rotor of which is mounted directly on the turbine casing, as shown and presently described, means are provided for drawing off any water which may le'ak through the spaces between the faces of the turbine casing and the rings 5 and 6. As shown, said means consists of interior grooves 19 formed around the bearing cups 8 in line with the spaces between the opposed faces of said turbine casing and the rings, said grooves bein provided at their bottoms with suitable rainage connections through which any water which may leak or be discharged into said grooves may drain off. In practice, however, I prefer to apply a continuous suction to the drainage connections of said grooves. Simple me'ans for this purpose consists in making pipe connections to the drainage openings of said grooves, as indicated at 20, and connecting said pipe conhection with a vacuum pump or other suction means, not shown. adapted to run continuously.

As shown, the opposed faces of the turbine casing and ring 5 are provided with a series of annular grooves 21 arranged to form a series of chambers, which, as is well known, will retard the assage of water through said space, there y accomplishing the same purpose as packing and without mechanical friction.

As applied in use as part of a hydro-electric generator, I preferably mount the rotor of the electrical enerator directly upon the turbine rim 2, t e stator of the electrical generator being supported on a suitable base so as to surround the rotor thereof mounted on the turbine rim, as aforesaid.

This application of my improved turbine is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, in which 22 designates the poles of the rotor of the electrical generator mounted directly upon the rim of the turbine, and 23 the stator of said generator which surrounds said rotor. As regards their general constructionboth mechanical and electricalthe stator and rotor of said electrical generator may be of any desired or approved construction and will be readily understood from the drawings by persons familiar therewith without a description thereof in detail. F or this reason, said rotor and stator are indicated diagraimnatieally only.

In order that the stator of the electrical generator shall not interfere with the installation of the hydromotive unit B and its removal when desired, the supporting lugs 24 of the stator which bolt to the base 25 on which said stator is supported, are slidabiy mounted. on the base as customary in all stai'idard horizontal shaft generators.

\Vhcn installing a hydraulic turbine of my invention, great care must be exercized in settin the penstock and draft tube in order that the bearings for mounting the rim of said turbine thereon shall re ister with each other, as otherwise it would be impossible to assemble the bearings which support the turbine. In practice, this can be effected by securing said penstock and draft tube in position with the bearing rings which support the bearings for the turbine rim or casing secured thereto, and in ri 'dly connecting the adjacent ends of sai penstock and draft tube with the bearings thereon in axial alignment with each other, and in then pouring the concrete forming the settings for said penstock and draft tube, all of which is old practice. \Vhen said concrete hardens, the connection between the'ends of said penstock and draft tube may be detached. In this manner, alignment of the turbine bearings will be assured and the convenient installation of the turbine provided for.

Preferably, also, the adjacent ends of said penstock and draft tube are additionally supported by and rigidly secured to what may be described as saddles formed on a supporting base secured to the floor A of the power house or other support. In ah dro-electric generator, said saddles, ind c-a-tcd at 26, are formed directly on the stator base 25, being preferably formed integral with the stator base in such position that the remote end of the rings 5 and '6 will rest therein, respectively, and said saddles being bolted or otherwise detachably secured to said rings.

As applied for use as part of a hydroelectric generator, my improved hydraulic turbine has several very great advantages, among which may be enumerated the followin 1. gtraight line flow of water until expansion in draft tube is complete and consequently greater efficiency.

2. Avoids mounting heavy machinery on arches or floors over water passages, pen- Stocks and draft tubes. 7

Avoids deep excavation in coti'er dam for draft tubes; and

4. Reduces the required width of power house building.

For general use, either for driving an electrical generator or other machine, instead of mounting the rotor of the driven machine directly upon the rotor of the turbine, as shown in Figures l to 3, and heretofore described, I contemplate the use of a gear, a sprocket wheel or a pulley-either for a belt, chain or a rope drive-on said rotor.

This modification of my invention is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, in which B designates the turbine, mounted between the adjacent ends of the penstock 3 and the draft tube 4:, and which, as regards its gen of the'penstock fiaiid draft tubel 7am,

eral construction, may be substantially 'iden ticatwith theturbine B (Figures l te 3). The generator-or other niaehine to be 'drii'en by said turbine is operative ly connected with said turbine'by means }of a belt;- chain-belt, gearor the like, indicated at 'C, on the easing of the turbine and'preferably formed integral thei'ewithflcomprisihg aLrim and iweb or spokes '28, which connect sa id rim ."In some i nstahcesgthe wat/er" power may be best" utilized by" constructing the penstock and the draft tube so -that their longitudinal axis is ine-lined 5 instead 'ofrzhm-i zen-=- as-shown, thus facilitatingthe gravity How iof the water therethrou'gh a1nd -'requiriing a' smaller total -angular=clmnge in directionifrom head watertotafl water. Insuch instances,- the turbine will be disposed in an incline to the horizontal-.pwithiitsdxis o firm ta tionueoincident with the iongitudinat'axis H i" While I consider a turbine of the'pifopeller type; such 5 as herein shown and; defined} as being preferable. for. the. carrying out of any inventidn1zdonot desire or intend to -limit myself thereto.--' as it is possible and even probable-that other types of aXltl5fl0W- turbin'es maybe-used withgoodmesults .ir diIxlaimE-a; .i- 'liz vi; 'z':-'.f-,- 33. '1' luzAmhydrqinotiile zi-uniti"; comprising i an axial flow rotor and a .rimor ,ca'sing. secured thereto so asto rotate therewithgconstructed and arranged: to be rotatably mounted: with clearanceibetweenthe. adjacentendsof the penstock andidraft; tube, and means for. dis posing of the leakage between fixed and revolving parts substantially :as described. 2. A ,hydromotive 'unit; comprising an axial iflow .rotorand a rim or. casing secured thereto so as to-rotate therewith,-constructed and arranged to be rotatably mounted between the adjacent ends},of.-.the penstock and draftitube, and means for disposing of the leakage between fixed andrevolving parts, and -means for applying power-developed thereby directly from the rim ofsaid .rotor, substantially as described. 1 j k I 3.; Ax hydromotive unit. comprising an axial flow rotor and'a rim.or casing secured thereto so as to rotate tl1erewith,construeted and arranged to be rotatably reounted.be: tweenthe adj acent, ends of the'penstock and draft tube, .and means for disposing of the leakage between .fixed and revolving parts and .withelectrical generator built circum: ferentially therewith, ;the. I poles ,thereof mounted on the rim. otsaid hydromotive unitQ-substantially as described.

A A. hydromotive unit comprising an axialflowrotor of the propeller type and a rim or casing secured thereto so as to rotate therewith, constructed and arranged to be rotatably mounted betweenv the ad acent ends of the penstock and. draft tube, and

means for disposing -ofthe' leakage between fixed and revolving? parts, substantiallylas ClG-SCI'lbBd. 5. A hydroinotive unit comprising"an axial flow rotor ot the propeller type and arim creasing secur'ed'thereto so' as to E0 tate therewithfieonstructed and arranged to be rotatably mounted 1 between the :ad acent ends of the penstock. aiid :g draft' tube and means for disposing ofi-the'ileakage between fixed and revolvingparts and 'rneains :iior applying-power developed thereby-,"substantiaily as described; E r 5 Hai a? hydrom'otiveru nitfi eomprisipgflian axial i'fldw deter: of a the ipmpellen ityipebzmd a .rmimrrcsising securedithereto :so' me to irotat'e"therewitluhonstmdted; :andl-arra-n ed to be m'ota'tably-s mounted between; the ad aeent ends inf :-the rpenstocks and'zdraft tubes and means dfor idispos'ingsiot; the; ileakfge between fixed sparts rand rrevolving- 2 parts, zand a iwith electrical generator s; built .-.clneululferentially therewith, the olesthereofimountrdion rim of'said-h romotiveunit.= :;';i 1; I. The com inationloi'nipenstock a draft tube. and a hydrou'iotive unit ofthe-itype specified rotatahly1 mq1mted:t between .said penstockand dra it; tubegwith meens- -for dis; pesinggiof'ithe :leakagesbetween fiz'red(andreur-ilvi parts; -,-the beatings .1 for-i rotatably mounting sajdhydromotiue unit .bein ..c0n

sanded .anda ng d t .pe i-tit eizms ablatiojnf .md. removal of: said-s hydromotive unit. substantially as described; My, tiieicombi atiopr-oie ipenstoqls a draft tu e: and in. iydromotiree nieofi-zth z yp specified rotatably mount d between said penstoekmndxhaft tube, withjneans for disposing oi; the; leakage between-fixed and "re-. velviug parts, the bearingsfor-said hydromotive unit comprising movably supported membersretraotion of svhich will disengage said hydromotii e unitirom; said pe stock and draft tube, substantially as described.

9. The combinationof-a penstoek, a draft tube,- and a hydromotive unit? of, the type specified. rotatably mounted .between said penstock and draft tube, the-bearings for said hydromotive -.unit ;compr-ising bearing members slidably mounted on said penstock and draft tube,.and movable towards and from said-hydromotiye unit to enga e the same with and disengageit from sai penstock and draft tube, substantially as described. 7

10. The combination of a. penstock, a. draft tube, and a hydromotiveunitof the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock .anddraft tube, the bearings for mounting said hydromotive unit comprising bearings formed on the penstock and draft tube and on the rim or casing of said hydromotive unit, substantially as described. 11. Thecombination of a penstock, a draft tube, and a hydromotive unit of the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock and draft tube, with means for disposing of the leakage between fixed and revolving parts, the bearings for mounting said hydromotive unit comprising a movable member or members, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a penstocl-:,adraft tube, and a hydromotive unit of the type specified, and means for rotatably mounting said hydromotive'unit between said penstock and-draft tube, comprisingrings on said penstock and draft tube, bearing members slidably mounted on said rings and hearings on the rim or casing of said hydromotive unit which co-operate with the bearings on said bearing members, substantially as described. 13. T he combination of a penstock, a 'draftftube, and a hydroinotive unitof the type specifieizl rotatably mounted between said pensto'ck and draft tube,j'the rim or casin of'said hydromotive unit and draft tube be ng'provided'fwithfopposed surfaces, one

' {of said 'surfaces"="being1 provided with a 'chamberadap'ted to be connected with a source of liquid under pressure to counterbalance the water pressure on the rotor of 'the hydi'omotive unit, substantially as described.

14:. The combination of a penstock, a draft tube, and a hy'dromotive unit of the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock and draft tube, and means for draining off water which leaks through between said penstock and draft tube and the casing of said hgdromotive unit, substantially as describe 15. The combination of a penstock, a draft tube, and a hydromotive unit of the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock and draft tube, and means for draining off water which leaks through between said penstock and draft tube and the casing of sald hydromotive unit, said means comprising flan es on said penstock and draft tube provided with internal grooves positioned opposite the points of leakage, and drainage connections to the bottoms of said drainage grooves, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a penstock, a

' draft tube, and a hydromotive unit of the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock and draft tube, and means for draining off water which leaks through between said penstock and draft tube and the casing of said hydromotive unit, said means comprising flan as on said penstock and draft tube provided with internal grooves positioned opposite the points of leakage, and means applied to the bottoms of said grooves for exerting a continuous suction thereto, substantially as described.

17. The combination of a penstock, a draft tube, and a hydromotive unit of'the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock and draft tube by means of ball bearings comprising movably supported members slidably'mounted on the penstock and draft tube, substantially as described.

18. The'eombination ofapenstock, a draft tube, and a hydromotive unit of the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock and draft tube by means of ball bearings comprising bones on the rim or casing of the hydromotive unit and cups slidably mounted on the penstock and draft tube, substantially as described.

19. The combination of a penstock, a. draft tube,'means for supporting the same, comprising means for rigidly connecting the adjacent ends thereof, and 'a hydromotive unit of the ty-pejspecified ro'tatably-inounted between said pen'stock anddraft tube and means for disposing of=the"lea'kage'bet'ween fix ed "and revolving'ipartsf substantially as described. "f" i 20. The combination are "penstock, a

draft tubejmeans for supporting th'e same,

comprising a base and saddles thereon in which said penstock and draft'tube are secured, and a hydromotive unit of the type specified rotatably mounted between said penstock and draft tube, with means for disposing of the leaka e between said hydromotive unit and sai "peiistoCk and draft tube, substantially as described.

21. A hydromotive unit comprising a hydraulic turbine of the propeller type and power transmitting means mounted upon the periphery thereof to rotate therewith between the fixed ends of penstock and draft tube, and means for draining away the. leakage between fixed and revolving parts.

22. A hydromotive unit comprising a hydraulic turbine of the propeller type, and an electric generator, the rotor of which is mounted upon the perimeter of said turbine designed to rotate between the fixed ends of enstock and draft tube and means for draining away the leakage between fixed and revolving parts.

23. The combination of a hydraulic turbine of the propeller type, and an electric generator concentrically mounted with their transverse axes disposed in a common plane, with fixed penstock and draft tube leading the water respectivel to and from the turbine and means for raining away the leakage between fixed and revolving parts.

24. The combination of a hydraulic turbine of the propeller type, and an electric generator mounted concentrically with and surrounding said turbine, the rotor of said generator being fixedly connected to and carried by the runner of said turbine, with fixed penstock and draft tube leading the water respectively to and from the turbine and means for draining away the leakage between fixed and revolving parts.

25. The combination of a hydraulic turbine of the propeller type comprising a runner provided with a circumferential rim forming a ortion of the water conduit to and from t e turbine and means for disposing of the leakage between the revolving turbine rim and the fixed ends of the water conduit, and an electric generator surroundin said runner and having the (generator p0 es fixedly mounted upon sai runner rim. I a

26. An axial flow hydraulic turbine with circumferential band or rim forming part of the water conduit and a penstock leading the water thereto and a draft tube therefrom, between the fixed ends of which the rim of the turbine revolves with clearance, and a water lubricated thrust bearing on the fixed end of the draft tube against which the turbine rim revolves.

2'LA11 axial flow hydraulic turbine with circumferential band or rim forming part of theyvater conduit and a penstock leading the water thereto and a draft tube there- 125 \from, between the fixed ends of which the rim of the turbine; revolves with clearance, and a 'water lubricated thrust bearin on the fixed end ofJthe draft tube against w ich the turbine rim revolves, .with means for disposin of the leakage between said turbine an said penstock and draft tube.

28. An axial flow hydraulic turbine with circumferential band or rim forming part of the water conduit and a penstock leading the water thereto and a draft tube therefrom, between the fixed ends of which the rim of the turbine revolves with clearance, and a water lubricated thrust bearing on the fixed end of the draft tube against which the turbine rim revolves, with means for disposing of the leakage between said turbine and said penstock and draft tube, with ower transmitting means mounted on said rim.

29. An axial flow hydraulic turbine with circumferential band or rim forming part of the water conduit and a penstock leading the. water thereto and a draft tube therefrom, between the fixed ends of which the rim of the turbine revolves with clearance, and a water lubricated thrust bearin on the fixed end of the draft tube against w ich the turbine rim revolves, .with means for disposing of the leakage between said turbine and said penstock and draft tube and enerator built concene-poles mounted upon with an electrical trically therewith, t said turbine rim.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signaturethis 20th day of November, 1919. i

' LEROY F. HARZA. 

